The esplanade at the station is also called the Sint-Niklaas Ramblas. It is one of the most talked about places in the city.
The esplanade's current construction dates back to the years 2002-2004. Back then, the city council wanted to transform the area around the station, which was in very bad shape, into a vibrant advertisement for the city. For many visitors, especially those arriving by train, the esplanade determines their first impression of the Sint-Niklaas.
That's why the esplanade was filled with beautiful plane trees. The biggest eye-catcher in the pedestrian plaza is the 'Schijf', a magnificent earth-shaped work of art that shows pictures of Sint-Niklaas on one side and images of the New Zealand city of Invercargill on the other. Invercargill is Sint-Niklaas's southern hemisphere counterpart: it is located on the exact opposite of the globe.
On the right-hand side of the Esplanade, you'll find the regional bus station, operated by De Lijn, and Siniscoop, the city's cinema complex.
